I’D DO ANYTHING TO SAVE MY LOVED ONE—REALLY? PROVE IT NOW!

[Max]

I'D DO ANYTHING TO SAVE MY LOVED ONE-REALLY? PROVE IT NOW!

How many times have you heard someone say, "I'd do anything to save my
loved one from____________"? (fill in your favorite incurable
disease-Ahlzeimers, AIDS, stroke, heart disease, cancer, traumatic brain
disorder, spinal cord injury, diabetes, hundreds more) Well, here's the
chance to see if they were serious, or just making empty talk.

Today, Tuesday, February 5, 2002, all our hopes for cure hang in the
balance. Two bills are before the Senate Judiciary Committee. One, the
Stemcell Research Bill, by Senator Dianne Feinstein, would allow
embryonic stemcell research to go forward in a responsible manner.

But the other bill, House Resolution 2505, the Cloning Prohibition Act
of 2001, by Senator Sam Brownback, would kill embryonic stemcell
research. How does it work?

Please remember the stemcells the President has allowed to be studied
are animal-enhanced, which means they can never be used to help people.
More stemcells will have to be made to fit the individual patient, and
that means therapeutic cloning*. Under the Brownback bill, therapeutic
cloning would be a federal crime, a felony punishable by ten years in
prison, a one million dollar minimum fine, and impoundment of all
laboratory equipment. If the Brownback Bill passes, it will kill
embryonic stemcell research.

For more information, go to www.californiansforcure.com But if you
already believe in the possibility of cure, now is the time to act. Call
a Senator or two.

Spend a couple minutes on the phone; ask your family members and friends
to do the same. It might change millions of lives. Call in off-hours if
you like (I do) because all they need is your statement, and you can
give that to a recorder, with a lot less hassle getting through. (If it
matters, the ones with the D are Democrats, and R of course is for
Republican).

After you identify yourself, (Leave your name and phone number,
otherwise they will not count your message) all you really need is one
sentence. Just say:

I oppose Senator Brownback's bill, which would kill embryonic stemcell
research.

*Therapeutic cloning is about cells, and healing. Reproductive cloning
is about babies, and should be illegal. Here are the people to call.
(Too late for letters: email is second best)
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Brownback, Sam (R - KS) (202) 224-6521
sam_brownback@brownback.senate.gov

Sessions, Jeff (R - AL) (202) 224-4124 senator@sessions.senate.gov

DeWine, Mike (R - OH) (202) 224-231
http://www.senate.gov/~dewine/request_form.html

Grassley, Chuck (R - IA) (202) 224-3744
http://grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm

Feingold, Russell (D - WI) (202) 224-5323
russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov

Leahy, Patrick (D - VT) (202) 224-4242 senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov

Kennedy, Edward (D - MA) (202) 224-4543 senator@kennedy.senate.gov

Biden Jr, Joseph (D ? DE (202) 224-5042 senator@biden.senate.gov

Kohl, Herb (D - WI) (202) 224-5653 senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov

Feinstein, Dianne (D - CA) (202) 224-3841 senator@feinstein.senate.gov

Schumer, Charles (D - NY) (202) 224-6542 senator@schumer.senate.gov

Durbin, Richard (D - IL) (202) 224-2152 dick@durbin.senate.gov

Cantwell, Maria (D - WA) (202) 224-3441
http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

Edwards, John (D - NC) (202) 224-3154
http://www.senate.gov/~edwards/contact.html

Hatch, Orrin (R - UT) (202) 224-5251 senator_hatch@hatch.senate.gov

Thurmond, Strom (R - SC) (202) 224-5972 senator@thurmond.senate.gov

Specter, Arlen (R - PA) (202) 224-4254
http://specter.senate.gov/webform.htm

Kyl, Jon (R - AZ) (202) 224-4521 info@kyl.senate.gov

Please don't fall for the smokescreen tactics the opposition is throwing
up about how adult stemcells are just as good. Plain common sense will
tell you why this is not true. Which is more inclined to grow: something
new or something old? Perhaps in five or ten years we will be able to
use the comparatively rare and hard to get adult stemcells, but right
now nothing is stronger or more promising than embryonic stemcells.

As Dr. Michael West of Advanced Cell Technology, recently featured in
the cover story of U.S. News and World Report, said in a personal
communication (used with permission):

"The battle is more in your hand than in mine at the moment. We are
doing what we can to move the science forward... but it will be you who
wins the battle with the opponents in influencing the outcome in the
Senate. And this will determine whether the "miracle" of (therapeutic)
cloning will be applied to medicine or not."-Dr. Michael West

We have to win this, folks. Our lives, and those we love are on the
line. An estimated one hundred million Americans suffer from diseases
currently considered incurable. That's one hundred million reasons to
support embryonic stemcell research.

All best,

Don C. Reed
Sponsor, Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act
Chairperson, Californians for Cure

P.S. What is my personal reason for involvement? My son Roman Reed is
paralyzed from the shoulders down, resulting from a college football
injury to the spine. Also, my beloved sister Patty died at the age of 24
from leukemia. My younger sister Barbara almost died of breast cancer.
My mother did die of that disease. Four very good reasons for me to
support embryonic stemcell research, so that others will not have to go
through what we did.

But my greatest dream was said best by a man you know, in a note I will
always treasure:

"One day, Roman and I will stand up from our wheelchairs, and walk away
from them forever." ? Christopher Reeve

Please. Call a couple Senators today. Either some of those on the
Judiciary Committee, or your national Senators. (Find them all at
Senate.gov on the internet.)

[Judy Kerperien]

It only takes 15 minutes to email the Senators listed in Max's post. Do it today please, it can make a difference in all our lives.

[mattblan]

Thanks for the phone numbers.

[andrea]

Max or who else knows it.
Does it counts even from e foreign country ?

Andrea

[Max]

It always counts maybe not directly...

I remember when we were lobying successfully for Paul Rihter sci bill in N.Y State many lawmakers were impressed by broad support it got in e-mails & even phone calls they got from foreign countries especially from Canada

There is always secretaries in the office who write down phone messages...& this show of support from other than US counties make people think twice before voting...

[This message was edited by Max on February 07, 2002 at 09:24 PM.]